Joseph David Leigh Sr

Joseph David Leigh, 84, of Chincoteague, Va., passed away peacefully on March 23, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of dedication both on the football field and to his extensive network of family and friends.

Joe is survived by his patient and loving wife of more than 30 years, Linda.  He is also survived by his son Michael (Jill), and daughter Mary (Patrick) Stiehm; step-sons Doug (Natalie) and Bill (Katie) Mullett; grandchildren Garrett (Kennedy), Cody, Carleigh (Ian), Claire (Adam), Alden, Ellah, Preston, Grace, Ben, Emma, Chase and Paige; great-grandsons Everett and Cooper; and sister Linda Bebout.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Ella and Harold (known lovingly as Tubby); his son, Joey; and his brother, Rick. 

Above all else, Joe was a devoted husband, loving father, and engaged grandfather.  He took great pride in teaching multiple generations to swim in his Ohio backyard and was well known for inventing his own character, “Sweet Lilah,” whose many adventures wound through countless bedtime stories. 

Joe never met a stranger and had a knack for finding connections with people everywhere he went.  His welcoming nature made others feel comfortable and at home in his company.  This warmth drew others in, and Joe happily expanded his family to include the many spares and strays that his children, step-children, and grandchildren brought around – he went by many names, “Papa Joe,” “Big Joe,” and “Pop-Pop,” just to name a few.

However, Joe is perhaps best known as “Coach.”  After graduating from East Liverpool Public Schools and Hiram College, Joe began his teaching and coaching career at St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs in 1964. Over the next six decades, Joe went on to become the head football coach at Ravenna High School, where he led the team to 119 wins, three Metro League Championships, and two shared Metro Championships.  Joe then became an assistant coach at Mount Union College and was a part of seven national championship teams from 1989 to 2005, with a seven-year win/loss record of 109-1 from 1996 to 2003.  Most recently, Joe coached the Ponies of Chincoteague High School.

Joe believed deeply in the importance of education and the role that athletic excellence can play in shaping the lives of young people.  There is hardly a sport he hasn’t coached at one point or another.  Joe kept in touch with many of his former players, all of whom have expressed deep gratitude for his mentorship and guidance that went far beyond the field.  In 2024, Joe was inducted into the Ravenna School District Hall of Fame during a ceremony that was heavily attended by his former students and players, a moment which was the culmination of his years of service to his community.

Joe was known for his classic sensibilities, like keeping a cloth hanky on him at all times and using his shaving mug to maintain his mustache, as well as his colorful language on the football field – something all of his former players can attest to.  Joe loved the beach, skiing, biking, and angel food cake, and hated when raisins found their way into his desserts.  In his later years, Joe could often be found drinking orange crushes with Linda, shucking oysters, and regaling anyone who would listen with one of the many stories from his youth (legend has it he even sledded down a hill and straight under a moving truck in the ‘50s).

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Joe’s life on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Christ United Methodist Church on Chincoteague Island, VA.  Memorial donations in Joe’s name can be made by mail to Chincoteague High School Athletic Boosters, 4586 Main St., Chincoteague Island, VA 23336. or online HERE

Services entrusted to Salyer Funeral Home, Inc, on Chincoteague Island, VA 23336. Condolences may be made online at www.salyerfh.com

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